[PHOTOS] Tears, prayers flow freely as champion Kiptum's final journey begins

Athletes, family members and friends are gathering at the Eldoret Hospital morgue to collect the body of World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

The 24-year-old's death in a road accident nearly two weeks ago on his way home has devastated the farming community in Chepsamo village.

Outside the quiet verandah of the Hospital's morgue, a sombre atmosphere envelopes the air as friends and family gather to bid their final farewell to Kiptum.

Their faces filled with sorrow, moved with heavy hearts as they gather outside the cold, stainless-steel doors of the morgue.

Samson Cheruiyot, father to Kiptum could not hold back his tears as he arrived at the mortuary where the body of his son had stayed for some days.

The situation was no different for Kiptum's mother, Mary Kangongo who was being supported by loved ones as she prepared to view her son's body.

Kiptum's widow, Asenath Rotich covered her face with a handkerchief as she mourned her husband and father to their two kids.

The hospital's  workers lined outside the morgue and paid their tribute to the World Marathon record holder by saying a word of prayer to bid him farewell

The body will travel escorted by a procession for about 80 km through Eldoret town to Iten town and then to his parent's home at Kipsamo village in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

The funeral programme indicates that the athletes will walk for about half a kilometer escorting the hearse in Eldoret town.

Residents of Iten town in his home county will be allowed to view the body when it arrives in the town at about 1 pm.

From Iten town the body will be taken to a local church at Kipsamo where a brief service will be held followed viewing of the body and a night vigil ahead of the main funeral service and burial tomorrow.